ADBLOCK #102
College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Value Specific Platforms Schools

1 Colleges in the United States
$23,320 Avg Student Debt
$39,096 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Specific Platforms Badge [Specific Platforms](/majors/computer-information-sciences/computer-programming/specific-platforms/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for specific platforms students.

What’s on this page:

ADBLOCK #159
DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/computer-information-sciences/computer-programming/specific-platforms/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/computer-information-sciences/computer-programming/specific-platforms/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/computer-information-sciences/computer-programming/specific-platforms/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/computer-information-sciences/computer-programming/specific-platforms/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/computer-information-sciences/computer-programming/specific-platforms/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/computer-information-sciences/computer-programming/specific-platforms/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/computer-information-sciences/computer-programming/specific-platforms/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: offers_data.offers found, count = 12
DEBUG: Specific major detected (cip4 = 11.02), keeping min_relevance at 0.8
DEBUG: Starting relevance filtering - min_relevance = 0.8, max_relevance = 1
DEBUG: Checking offer "MS in Information Technology - Software Application Development" with relevance 1
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "MS in Information Technology - Software Application Development" ACCEPTED (relevance 1)
DEBUG: Checking offer "AS in Computer Science" with relevance 0.9
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "AS in Computer Science" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.9)
DEBUG: Checking offer "BS in Computer Science" with relevance 0.9
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "BS in Computer Science" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.9)
DEBUG: Checking offer "BS in Computer Science - Software Engineering" with relevance 0.9
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "BS in Computer Science - Software Engineering" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.9)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Computer Science (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Computer Science (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Computer Science (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Computer Science (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Computer Science (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Computer Science (I Have a Bachelors)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Software Engineering (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Software Engineering (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Software Engineering Boot Camp (All Degree Levels)" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Software Engineering Boot Camp (All Degree Levels)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Software Engineering (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Software Engineering (I Have a Bachelors)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "BS in Game Programming & Development" with relevance 0.7
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "BS in Game Programming & Development" REJECTED (relevance 0.7)
DEBUG: Checking offer "MS in Information Technology - Database Design" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "MS in Information Technology - Database Design" REJECTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 10
DEBUG: relevant_offers > 0, checking for ESYOH offers
DEBUG: ESYOH filtering - found 6 ESYOH offers with relevance >= 0.8
DEBUG: esyoh_offers count = 6
DEBUG: ESYOH offers found, rendering ESYOH widget
DEBUG: most_relevant_only = true, filtering for most relevant
DEBUG: Found 0 offers with relevance >= 1.0
DEBUG: Backfilling with 0 offers with relevance >= 0.9
DEBUG: Backfilling with 6 offers with relevance >= 0.8

Finding the Best Value Specific Platforms School for You

Where you study specific platforms affects both what you pay and what you earn. To help, we created our Best Value Specific Platforms Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.

Read more about our methodology

Customizing Your List

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Specific Platforms Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.

Associate's Degrees in Specific Platforms
Bachelor's Degrees in Specific Platforms
Master's Degrees in Specific Platforms
Doctorate Degrees in Specific Platforms

To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.

See how we build our rankings

DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/computer-information-sciences/computer-programming/specific-platforms/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/computer-information-sciences/computer-programming/specific-platforms/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/computer-information-sciences/computer-programming/specific-platforms/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/computer-information-sciences/computer-programming/specific-platforms/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/computer-information-sciences/computer-programming/specific-platforms/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/computer-information-sciences/computer-programming/specific-platforms/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/computer-information-sciences/computer-programming/specific-platforms/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: offers_data.offers found, count = 12
DEBUG: Specific major detected (cip4 = 11.02), keeping min_relevance at 0.8
DEBUG: Starting relevance filtering - min_relevance = 0.8, max_relevance = 1
DEBUG: Checking offer "MS in Information Technology - Software Application Development" with relevance 1
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "MS in Information Technology - Software Application Development" ACCEPTED (relevance 1)
DEBUG: Checking offer "AS in Computer Science" with relevance 0.9
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "AS in Computer Science" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.9)
DEBUG: Checking offer "BS in Computer Science" with relevance 0.9
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "BS in Computer Science" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.9)
DEBUG: Checking offer "BS in Computer Science - Software Engineering" with relevance 0.9
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "BS in Computer Science - Software Engineering" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.9)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Computer Science (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Computer Science (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Computer Science (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Computer Science (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Computer Science (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Computer Science (I Have a Bachelors)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Software Engineering (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Software Engineering (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Software Engineering Boot Camp (All Degree Levels)" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Software Engineering Boot Camp (All Degree Levels)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Software Engineering (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Software Engineering (I Have a Bachelors)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "BS in Game Programming & Development" with relevance 0.7
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "BS in Game Programming & Development" REJECTED (relevance 0.7)
DEBUG: Checking offer "MS in Information Technology - Database Design" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "MS in Information Technology - Database Design" REJECTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 10
DEBUG: relevant_offers > 0, checking for ESYOH offers
DEBUG: ESYOH filtering - found 6 ESYOH offers with relevance >= 0.8
DEBUG: esyoh_offers count = 6
DEBUG: ESYOH offers found, rendering ESYOH widget
DEBUG: most_relevant_only = true, filtering for most relevant
DEBUG: Found 0 offers with relevance >= 1.0
DEBUG: Backfilling with 0 offers with relevance >= 0.9
DEBUG: Backfilling with 6 offers with relevance >= 0.8
ADBLOCK #171

2026 Best Value Specific Platforms Schools in the United States

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in specific platforms, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Specific Platforms Schools

1

Macomb Community College earned the #1 spot for value among specific platforms schools in the United States. Located in the city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,660, compared with $8,370 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,862 to complete the specific platforms program here. Soon after graduation, specific platforms degree recipients from Macomb Community College generally make around $38,758. Set against $9,862 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

2
Purdue University Global crest
Purdue University Global
West Lafayette, IN

A rank of #2 makes Purdue University Global one of the best values for specific platforms. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Global is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,101, while out-of-state students pay about $14,412. Typical student debt for specific platforms graduates is $36,778. Soon after graduation, specific platforms degree recipients from Purdue University Global generally make around $54,278. That is a strong return on a $36,778 median debt.

DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/computer-information-sciences/computer-programming/specific-platforms/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/computer-information-sciences/computer-programming/specific-platforms/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/computer-information-sciences/computer-programming/specific-platforms/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/computer-information-sciences/computer-programming/specific-platforms/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/computer-information-sciences/computer-programming/specific-platforms/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/computer-information-sciences/computer-programming/specific-platforms/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/computer-information-sciences/computer-programming/specific-platforms/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: offers_data.offers found, count = 12
DEBUG: Specific major detected (cip4 = 11.02), keeping min_relevance at 0.5
DEBUG: Starting relevance filtering - min_relevance = 0.5, max_relevance = 1
DEBUG: Checking offer "BS in Computer Science - Software Engineering" with relevance 0.9
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "BS in Computer Science - Software Engineering" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.9)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Computer Science (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Computer Science (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Computer Science (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Computer Science (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Computer Science (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Computer Science (I Have a Bachelors)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Software Engineering (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Software Engineering (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Software Engineering Boot Camp (All Degree Levels)" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Software Engineering Boot Camp (All Degree Levels)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Software Engineering (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Software Engineering (I Have a Bachelors)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "BS in Game Programming & Development" with relevance 0.7
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "BS in Game Programming & Development" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.7)
DEBUG: Checking offer "MS in Information Technology - Database Design" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "MS in Information Technology - Database Design" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 9
DEBUG: relevant_offers > 0, checking for ESYOH offers
DEBUG: ESYOH filtering - found 6 ESYOH offers with relevance >= 0.5
DEBUG: esyoh_offers count = 6
DEBUG: ESYOH offers found, rendering ESYOH widget
DEBUG: most_relevant_only = true, filtering for most relevant
DEBUG: Found 0 offers with relevance >= 1.0
DEBUG: Backfilling with 0 offers with relevance >= 0.9
DEBUG: Backfilling with 6 offers with relevance >= 0.8

ADBLOCK #173
View All Rankings >

Specific Platforms is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. Browse the parent area of study.

ADBLOCK #115

Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 14 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

ADBLOCK #116

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs
ADBLOCK #613

Compare Your School Options